Col. Orvel J. Johnson.
Whether as soldier, public spirited
citizen, lawyer, man of affairs or thorough American, it is difficult
to know which to speak of first in connection with Col. Orvel J.
Johnson, of Oklahoma City,
for in each case he has gained the same enviable reputation. He is a
man born to lead, the possessor of a forceful individuality that
absolutely commands respect; with positive ideas and a power of
enforcing on others that must always assure him a strong place in any
community, a man of most dignified appearance and never-failing
courtesy.

Colonel Johnson was
born in Oaksville, on Oak Creek, Otsego County, New York, in 1876,
and is a descendant of Sir William Johnston, one of the earliest
settlers of the Mohawk Valley in New York State and the founder of
Johnstown, New York, in Fulton County. The parents of Mr. Johnson,
George W. and Emma (Slater) Johnson,
natives of the Empire state, still survive and make their home there.
Col. Orvel J. Johnson received his early education in the public
schools of his native locality, following which he attended the high
school at Oneonta, Otsego County, and later the New York State Normal
School, located at the same place. After his graduation from the
latter, in 1893, he decided upon a career in medicine, and for five
years was a student under Dr. George F. Entler, of Oneonta, being
still with this preceptor when the Spanish-American war came on. For
some years he had been a member of the New York National Guards, and
when this organization was called upon for service he went to the
front as lieutenant of Company G, First Regiment, New York Volunteer
Infantry, but was subsequently transferred to the Medical Corps and
spent one year in foreign service, being stationed in the Hawaiian
Islands.

On his return to
Oneonta in 1899, he became superintendent of transportation of 105
miles of electric lines in New York, from Oneonta to Utica, and
continued with this line until 1908, when he came to Oklahoma. He had
taken up the study of law in connection with his railway duties, and
in October, 1908, entered Epworth University, Oklahoma City, from
which he was graduated in 1910, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws,
being at once admitted to the bar. Colonel Johnson at once began
practice and his ability and ready resource soon made for him
considerable mark in his profession. Every case of which he has taken
charge has been conducted conscientiously and most carefully, and
while he has a natural courage, sufficient to provide him with
resource in any emergency, yet ample preparation is bestowed whenever
the opportunity is accorded. He is a fine speaker, has a most
excellent manner, and that peculiarly effective power which is the
result of a complete understanding of the principles involved and an
earnest conviction of the justice of the case.

While a resident of
Oneonta, New York, he became interested in athletics, and for
fourteen years was president of Company G Athletic Association.
Later, during his law course, he was physical director of the Epworth
University athletes. Colonel Johnson has long been active in
politics. Originally a republican, he was the organizer of the
Roosevelt (progressive) movement in Oklahoma and the secretary of the
state committee, spending practically an entire year of his time in
this work. He has now, however, returned to the republican fold, and
is active in campaign work as a speaker and a member of the
Republican County Committee.

In 1911 at the
National Encampment of the Spanish-American War Veterans, Colonel
Johnson placed in nomination Morris B. Simons for commander-in-chief,
and after seeing him elected was honored by being appointed to the
commander’s staff, with the rank of Colonel. In 1914 he was likewise
honored by Governor Lee Cruse, of Oklahoma, who appointed him on his
staff with the rank of colonel, this being a particular honor because
of their difference in politics. Various other positions have been
entrusted to Colonel Johnson. Since 1911 he
has been president of the Oklahoma State Automobile Association, and
since 1912 president of the New York State Society of Oklahoma. He is
prominently identified with Masonry, having reached the thirty-second
degree, passing through all the Scottish Rite bodies including
Oklahoma Consistory of the Valley of
Guthrie.

Ever since coming to
Oklahoma Colonel Johnson has been a steady and enthusiastic booster
for the state. A member of the Chamber of Commerce and of its
Boosters’ Club, he has given considerable time and work to furthering
the interests of the state and has been the means of bringing in a
large amount of outside capital for the development of its various
enterprises and industries. At this time he is one of the directors
of the Capital Building Company, and is personally interested largely
in substantial realty in Oklahoma City, and was the promoter of the
Wichita Falls Motor Truck Company, of Wichita Falls, Texas, the
largest industry of its kind west of the Mississippi River. He
maintains offices at No. 215 Oklahoma Building, Oklahoma City.

On July 31, 1911,
Colonel Johnson was united in marriage with Mrs. Flora W. (Steele)
Penney, daughter of Judge Steele, of Herkimer, New York. The
beautiful Johnson home is located at No. 130 East Park Place,
Oklahoma City.